Annual Sandblast brings temporary art to Greenwich shore

By Martin B. Cassidy

Updated 6:55 pm, Sunday, July 30, 2017

Photo: Alex Von Kleydorff / Hearst Connecticut Media

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Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts Council and The Department of Parks and Recreation. less

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts ... more

Photo: Alex Von Kleydorff / Hearst Connecticut Media

Image 2 of 34

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts Council and The Department of Parks and Recreation. less

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts ... more

Photo: Alex Von Kleydorff / Hearst Connecticut Media

Image 3 of 34

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts Council and The Department of Parks and Recreation. less

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts ... more

Photo: Alex Von Kleydorff / Hearst Connecticut Media

Image 4 of 34

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts Council and The Department of Parks and Recreation. less

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts ... more

Photo: Alex Von Kleydorff / Hearst Connecticut Media

Image 5 of 34

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts Council and The Department of Parks and Recreation. less

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts ... more

Photo: Alex Von Kleydorff / Hearst Connecticut Media

Image 6 of 34

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts Council and The Department of Parks and Recreation. less

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts ... more

Photo: Alex Von Kleydorff / Hearst Connecticut Media

Image 7 of 34

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts Council and The Department of Parks and Recreation. less

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts ... more

Photo: Alex Von Kleydorff / Hearst Connecticut Media

Image 8 of 34

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts Council and The Department of Parks and Recreation. less

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts ... more

Photo: Alex Von Kleydorff / Hearst Connecticut Media

Image 9 of 34

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts Council and The Department of Parks and Recreation. less

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts ... more

Photo: Alex Von Kleydorff / Hearst Connecticut Media

Image 10 of 34

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts Council and The Department of Parks and Recreation. less

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts ... more

Photo: Alex Von Kleydorff / Hearst Connecticut Media

Image 11 of 34

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts Council and The Department of Parks and Recreation. less

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts ... more

Photo: Alex Von Kleydorff / Hearst Connecticut Media

Image 12 of 34

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts Council and The Department of Parks and Recreation. less

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts ... more

Photo: Alex Von Kleydorff / Hearst Connecticut Media

Image 13 of 34

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts Council and The Department of Parks and Recreation. less

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts ... more

Photo: Alex Von Kleydorff / Hearst Connecticut Media

Image 14 of 34

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts Council and The Department of Parks and Recreation. less

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts ... more

Photo: Alex Von Kleydorff / Hearst Connecticut Media

Image 15 of 34

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts Council and The Department of Parks and Recreation. less

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts ... more

Photo: Alex Von Kleydorff / Hearst Connecticut Media

Image 16 of 34

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts Council and The Department of Parks and Recreation. less

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts ... more

Photo: Alex Von Kleydorff / Hearst Connecticut Media

Image 17 of 34

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts Council and The Department of Parks and Recreation. less

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts ... more

Photo: Alex Von Kleydorff / Hearst Connecticut Media

Image 18 of 34

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts Council and The Department of Parks and Recreation. less

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts ... more

Photo: Alex Von Kleydorff / Hearst Connecticut Media

Image 19 of 34

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts Council and The Department of Parks and Recreation. less

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts ... more

Photo: Alex Von Kleydorff / Hearst Connecticut Media

Image 20 of 34

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts Council and The Department of Parks and Recreation. less

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts ... more

Photo: Alex Von Kleydorff / Hearst Connecticut Media

Image 21 of 34

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts Council and The Department of Parks and Recreation. less

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts ... more

Photo: Alex Von Kleydorff / Hearst Connecticut Media

Image 22 of 34

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts Council and The Department of Parks and Recreation. less

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts ... more

Photo: Alex Von Kleydorff / Hearst Connecticut Media

Image 23 of 34

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts Council and The Department of Parks and Recreation. less

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts ... more

Photo: Alex Von Kleydorff / Hearst Connecticut Media

Image 24 of 34

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts Council and The Department of Parks and Recreation. less

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts ... more

Photo: Alex Von Kleydorff / Hearst Connecticut Media

Image 25 of 34

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts Council and The Department of Parks and Recreation. less

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts ... more

Photo: Alex Von Kleydorff / Hearst Connecticut Media

Image 26 of 34

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts Council and The Department of Parks and Recreation. less

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts ... more

Photo: Alex Von Kleydorff / Hearst Connecticut Media

Image 27 of 34

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts Council and The Department of Parks and Recreation. less

Sand as art at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts ... more

Photo: Alex Von Kleydorff / Hearst Connecticut Media

Image 28 of 34

Dana Crisan and the "Romanians" team construct the landscape of Kings Landing from the TV show Game of Thrones during Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts council and The Department of Parks and Recreation. less

Dana Crisan and the "Romanians" team construct the landscape of Kings Landing from the TV show Game of Thrones during Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants ... more

Photo: Alex Von Kleydorff / Hearst Connecticut Media

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9yr old Brianna Timlin uses a yardstick to get the steps to her Mordern Mansion just right, after refering to her blueprints for the sandcastle during Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts Council and The Department of Parks and Recreation. less

9yr old Brianna Timlin uses a yardstick to get the steps to her Mordern Mansion just right, after refering to her blueprints for the sandcastle during Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, ... more

Photo: Alex Von Kleydorff / Hearst Connecticut Media

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Zach Kuen, 8, brings seaweed for Gloria Strazza to put on top of a bubble-blowing volcano during the annual Sandblast festival at Tod’s Point Beach in Greenwich on Sunday. Participants used their imagination to build a variety of sculptures during the event, which was sponsored by the Greenwich Arts Council and the Department of Parks and Recreation. less

Zach Kuen, 8, brings seaweed for Gloria Strazza to put on top of a bubble-blowing volcano during the annual Sandblast festival at Tod’s Point Beach in Greenwich on Sunday. Participants used their imagination ... more

Photo: Alex Von Kleydorff / Hearst Connecticut Media

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The North Mianus team has all the paddles and preservers on their Pioneer Boat until a baby jumps overboard from the teams creation during Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts Council and The Department of Parks and Recreation. less

The North Mianus team has all the paddles and preservers on their Pioneer Boat until a baby jumps overboard from the teams creation during Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in ... more

Photo: Alex Von Kleydorff / Hearst Connecticut Media

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6yr old Lily Bindenberger gets some water onto the baby hippopotamus during Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts Council and The Department of Parks and Recreation. less

6yr old Lily Bindenberger gets some water onto the baby hippopotamus during Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most ... more

Photo: Alex Von Kleydorff / Hearst Connecticut Media

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Joanne and Jim McKinney place shels on the Team McKinney and friends Gaudi inspired creation at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their imagination to build most anything during the annual event, sponsored by The Greenwich Arts Council and The Department of Parks and Recreation. less

Joanne and Jim McKinney place shels on the Team McKinney and friends Gaudi inspired creation at Sand Blast 2017 at Tod's Point Beach on Sunday July 30, 2017 in Greenwich Conn. Participants used their ... more

Photo: Alex Von Kleydorff / Hearst Connecticut Media

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Annual Sandblast brings temporary art to Greenwich shore

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GREENWICH — A group of 10 children from the North Mianus neighborhood, including kids from the Weaver, O’Neill, Guzman-Milligan and Mas families, spent Sunday morning building a motorboat Hannah Weaver, 9, said was based off a photo on Pinterest.

Hannah Weaver said the boat — complete with a sieve as a steering wheel and propeller — was ideal because they could all assume different imaginary roles when the sand sculpture was completed.

“We all agreed it was a good idea because it is big enough for us all to have jobs,” she said.

More than 200 people broken into more than 50 teams took part in the annual Sandblast sand-sculpting festival, molding and shaping temporary castles, boats and other objects with various levels of planning and care on Sunday. The festival, co-sponsored by the Greenwich Arts Council and and the town’s Department of Parks and Recreation had been postponed from Saturday, and took place from noon to 1:30 p.m.

All were given participation awards. In addition, the first-place prize consisted of an all-in-one Beachmate Beach Tote System complete with cooler, beach toys and other compartments, awarded to the best sculpture. Second and third place prizes were beach towels, said Patricia Troiano, a recreation supervisor for the town.

Children’s music duo Jay and Ray performed at the southern pavilion in the park during the event.

“Some people come to win and be competitive, but it’s really about getting outside and having a fun family activity,” Troiano said.

Shore Road resident Tim McKinney was the creative guide to a team of neighbors helping mold a 5-foot tall terraced, pyramid-like structure. McKinney said it was an homage to 19th- and 20th-century Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi.

In tribute to Gaudi’s unpredictable use of mosaic patterns of ceramics and other materials, Grace, Ginger and Jillian Leigh, the teenage daughters of his neighbor, Charlie Leigh, decorated the outside of the sculpture with hundreds of seashells.

“I’ve been gathering the shells all winter,” McKinney said. “I would describe Gaudi’s work as organic and being biological in many ways.”

Last year’s winner of the contest, Dana Dan-Crisan, sculpted her interpretation of King’s Landing and Westeros from the HBO medieval drama “Game of Thrones.”

Dan-Crisan said she and her children Vivienne, 7, and Sebastian, 4, usually practice sand-sculpting at Tod’s Point every weekend.

“I think it is great because it gives them the experience of creating and building everyday,” said the 40-year-old Glenville woman, who was assisted by her husband, Calin Crisan, and others. “It is something to work on getting better at.”